Locking assembly for securing a rod member in a receiver part for use in spinal or trauma surgery, bone anchoring device with such a locking assembly and tool therefor

ABSTRACT

A locking assembly for securing a rod in a receiving part of a bone anchoring device includes a first locking element having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis of rotation and an outer surface provided with an external thread, a coaxial bore passing entirely through said first locking element and an internal thread provided at said bore, a second locking element having a longitudinal axis of rotation and an outer surface with an external thread cooperating with the internal thread of said first locking element. The first locking element has a recess between the first end and the second end, that defines a circumferentially closed wall portion. The interior of the wall portion has a longitudinally extending structure for engagement with a tool. Furthermore, a tool is provided which has sections which can be independently engaged with the first and second locking element, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/729,444, filed Mar. 28, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,972,364, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/787,901, filed Mar. 31, 2006, and claims priority from European Patent Application EP06006832.7, filed Mar. 31, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a locking assembly for securing a rod member in a receiver part connected to a shank for use in spinal or trauma surgery. The invention further relates to a bone anchoring device using such a locking assembly and to a tool for cooperating with such a locking assembly.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,598 B1 discloses a threaded plug closure adapted for use in securing a rod member to a bone screw implant, said closure comprising a plug having a threaded cylindrically-shaped outer surface, said plug being received between a pair of arms of a medical implant during use, a central coaxial bore passing entirely through said plug, said central bore having an internal threaded surface which is shaped to receive a set screw. The plug closure and the set screw can be independently installed and the set screw tightened to cooperatively provide capture and locking of the rod in order to secure the rod against translational and rotational movement relative to the bone screw.

US 2003/0100896 A1 discloses a bone anchoring device with a shank and a receiving part connected to it for connecting to a rod. The receiving part has a recess having a U-shaped cross-section for receiving the rod with two open legs and an internal thread on the open legs. A locking assembly is provided comprising a nut member with an external thread which cooperates with the internal thread of the legs and a set screw. The nut member has on one end slits for engagement with a screw tool. The shank has a spherically shaped head which is pivotably held in the receiving part and a pressure element is provided which exerts pressure on the head when the nut member is tightened. By tightening the set screw the rod is fixed in the receiving part. Hence, the rod and the head can be locked independently from each other. The internal thread and the cooperating external thread of the nut member are designed as a flat thread. The implant has a compact design, since an outer ring or nut to prevent splaying of the legs is not necessary.

The outer diameter of the locking assembly is under various aspects determined by the required tightening torque and the thread form. In turn, the overall dimensions of the upper portion of the bone anchoring device are determined by the size of the locking assembly.

Therefore, there is a need for a locking assembly and a bone anchoring device with a locking assembly which has the same reliability as the known devices but which has smaller dimensions of the upper portion. Furthermore, there is a need for a tool for such a locking assembly.

SUMMARY

The locking assembly according to the invention can be designed with a smaller outer diameter compared to the known locking assemblies. Therefore, the size of the bone anchoring device can be reduced. The bone anchoring device with such a reduced size is particularly suitable for application to the cervical spine or other areas where a limited available space requires compact implants.

Furthermore, the locking assembly is structured so as to allow nesting of two or more locking elements.

With the tool according to the invention a simultaneous but independent fixation of the locking elements of the locking assembly is possible.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent and will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the bone anchoring device with the locking assembly.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective elevational view of the bone anchoring device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view from the top of the locking assembly.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the locking assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the locking assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a tool.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the lower part of the tool cooperating with the locking assembly.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the locking assembly and the lower part of the tool.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the locking assembly with cooperating portions of the tool shown in section wherein the other parts of the tool are omitted.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a modification of the first locking element of the locking assembly.

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a further modification of the first locking element of the locking assembly.

FIG. 12 shows a second embodiment of the locking assembly in a top view.

FIG. 13 shows a further embodiment of the locking assembly in a perspective view.

FIG. 14 shows the locking assembly of FIG. 13 in a top view.

FIG. 15 shows the locking assembly of FIG. 13 in a sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 shows a tool cooperating with the locking assembly of FIG. 13 in a sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the locking assembly used in a polyaxial bone anchoring device 1. The bone anchoring device comprises a bone screw 2 having a shank 3 with a bone thread and a spherically-shaped head 4. The bone screw 2 is received in a receiving part 5 which has a first end 6 and a second end 7 and is of substantially cylindrical construction. The two ends are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis L. Coaxially with the longitudinal axis L a bore 8 is provided which extends from the first end 6 to a predetermined distance from the second end 7. At the second end 7 an opening 9 is provided, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the bore 8. The coaxial bore 8 tapers towards the opening 9. In the embodiment shown it tapers in form of a spherically shaped section 10. However, the section 10 can have any other shape such as, for example, a conical shape.

The receiving part 5, further, has a U-shaped recess 11 which starts at the first end 6 and extends in the direction of the second end 7 to a predetermined distance from said second end. By means of the U-shaped recess two free legs 12, 13 are formed ending towards the first end 6. Adjacent to the first end 6, the receiving part 5 comprises an internal thread 14 at the inner surface of the legs 12, 13. In the embodiment shown, the internal thread 14 is a flat thread having horizontal upper and lower thread flanks.

Additionally, a pressure element 15 is provided which has a substantially cylindrical construction with an outer diameter sized so as to allow the pressure element 15 to be introduced into the bore 8 of the receiving part and to be moved in the axial direction. On its lower side facing towards the second end 7, the pressure element 15 comprises a spherical recess 16 cooperating with a spherical section of the head 4. On its opposite side the pressure element 15 has a U-shaped recess 17 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis L by means of which two free legs 18,19 are formed. The lateral diameter of this U-shaped recess is selected such that a rod 20 which is to be received in the receiving part 5 can be inserted into the recess 17 and guided laterally therein. The depth of this U-shaped recess 17 is larger than the diameter of the rod 20 so that the legs 18, 19 extend above the surface of the rod 20 when the rod is inserted.

The bone anchoring device comprises a locking assembly 30. The locking assembly 30 includes, as shown in particular in FIGS. 2 to 5 a first locking element 31 and a second locking element 32. The first locking element has a first end 33 and a second end 34 and a substantially cylindrical shape between the first and the second end and with an outer surface having an external thread 35 which is, in the embodiment shown, a flat thread which matches with the internal thread 14 of the receiving part 5. Further, the first locking element comprises a coaxial bore 36 extending from the second end 34 in the direction of the first end 33. The coaxial bore 36 comprises an internal thread, which is in the embodiment shown a metric thread. The first locking element 31 further comprises a coaxial recess 37 starting from the first end 33 and extending to a predetermined distance from the second end 34. The mean diameter of the recess 37 is larger than the diameter of the coaxial bore 36. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, by means of the recess 37 a substantially ring-shaped wall is formed. A plurality of longitudinal grooves 38 are formed extending from the first end 33 along the wall to the bottom 39 of the recess 37. The grooves 38 shown in this embodiment have an approximately semi-circular cross section. They are equidistantly distributed in a circumferential direction of the recess 37. Preferably, at least two grooves are formed. The wall of the recess 37 can have a slanted surface 40 adjacent to the first end 33 in order to facilitate the introduction of a tool. The depth of the recess 37 is selected such that the length of the bore 36 is still sufficient to cooperate with the second locking element 32 for a good fixation. On the other hand the depth of the recess 37 is such that an area sufficient for engagement with a tool is provided.

The second locking element 32 is shaped as a set screw with an external thread 42 cooperating with the internal thread of the coaxial bore 36. The axial length of the second locking element 32 is such that when the second locking element 32 is completely screwed into the first locking element 31 it projects slightly from the second end 34 of the first locking element. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 4, the second locking element 32 comprises a coaxial recess 43 with grooves 44 extending in longitudinal direction, similar to the recess 37 and the grooves 38 of the first locking element. The recess 43 and the grooves 44 serve for a form-fit cooperation with a tool to be described hereinafter.

A tool for cooperating with the locking assembly is shown in FIGS. 6 to 9. The tool 50 comprises a tube 51 and a bar 52 which is slidable in the tube 51. The tube 51 has an end section 53 for cooperation with the locking assembly and a second end with a grip portion 58 which has, for example, a hexagonal outer shape. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 7 to 9, the end section 53 has a reduced outer diameter, corresponding to the inner diameter of the recess 37 of the first locking element. The end section 53 comprises a plurality of projections 54 the number of which is less than or equal to the number of the grooves 38 of the first locking element. The projections 54 are structured and designed to engage with the grooves 38 of the first locking element to provide a form-fit connection between the end section 53 of the tool and the recess 37 of the first locking element. The axial length of the end section 53 is preferably equal to or larger than the depth of the recess 37.

The bar 52 comprises an end section 55 which is structured and designed to cooperate with the recess 43 of the second locking element 32. For this purpose, the end section 55 has a plurality of projections 56 the number of which is equal to or less than the number of grooves 44 of the second locking element and which are structured and designed to engage with the grooves 44. On its opposite end, the bar 52 has a grip portion 57 which allows to grip the bar 52 and to rotate it independently from the tube 51. The length of the bar 52 is selected such that when the end section 53 of the tube is engaged with the first locking element, the second locking element 32 can be independently engaged by the end section 55 of the bar and screwed into the first locking element.

In operation, first, at least two usually preassembled bone anchoring devices comprising the bone screw 2, the receiving part 5 and the pressure element 15 are screwed into the bone. Thereafter, the rod 20 is inserted into the U-shaped recess 11 of the receiving part 5. Then, the locking assembly 30, comprising the first locking element 31 and the second locking element 32 which are preferably preassembled, is screwed-in between the legs 12, 13 of the receiving part 5. The first locking element is tightened by applying the tool 50 such that the end section 53 of the tube engages with the recess 37 and the grooves 38 of the first locking element to form a form-fit connection. In this way, pressure is exerted by the lower side of the first locking element onto the free legs 18, 19 of the pressure element which presses onto the head 4 of the bone screw 2 to lock the head in its rotational position relative to the receiving part 5.

Then, the second locking element 32 is tightened by application of the tool in that the end section 56 of the bar engages the recess 43 of the second locking element and torque is applied. In this way, the position of the rod 20 relative to the receiving part is fixed.

A fine tuning of the position of the receiving part 5 relative to the bone screw 2 and of the rod 20 relative to the receiving part can be performed by loosening either the first locking element 31 or the second locking element 32.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the locking assembly 30 with the end sections 53 and 56 of tool engaging the locking elements with the tool shown in section. For the purpose of illustration only, the remainder of the tool is not shown. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the end sections of the tool and the recesses of the first and second locking elements form a form-fit connection for the application of torque to screw-in the locking elements. The external thread 35 of the first locking element is of continuous form, without recesses or interruptions. Therefore, the dimension of the locking element can be reduced. This guarantees safe locking of the first locking element. The area required for engagement of the tool with the first locking element is located within the recess 37. This allows to design the first locking element 31 with a reduced diameter. If the number of grooves 38 is increased, the depth of the grooves can be reduced. Hence, the size of the first locking element can be reduced corresponding to the increase of the number of grooves.

The size of the outer dimension of the first locking element 31 determines the size of the receiving part and the other elements of the bone anchoring device. Further, since the external thread of the first locking element remains intact over its whole length, the height of the locking element can be reduced.

FIG. 10 shows the first locking element 31 with a modified shape of the grooves. The grooves 38′ have a triangular cross section. FIG. 11 shows the first locking element 31 with a further modification of the shape of the grooves. The grooves 38″ have a square cross section. However, the cross section of the grooves may have another shape as well.

FIG. 12 shows a second embodiment of the locking assembly. The locking assembly 300 comprises three locking elements. The first locking element 301 is shaped like the locking element 31 of the first embodiment. The second locking element 302 differs from the second locking element 30 of the first embodiment in that is has coaxial threaded bore, like the first locking element, to receive the third locking element 303. It is also possible to design the locking assembly with more than three nested locking elements such that each of the locking elements has a threaded coaxial bore to receive a further locking element. In this manner, for certain applications, an improved fixation can be achieved, for example, if used in complex minimally invasive surgery procedures.

The locking assembly according to a further embodiment includes one single locking element 400 which has an external thread 401 and a coaxial bore 402 extending through the entire locking element from the first end 403 to the second end 404. A coaxial ring-shaped recess 405 extends from the first end 403 in the direction of the second end. The wall of the recess comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves 406 for engagement with a tool. By means of the recess 405 and the coaxial bore 402, a coaxial hollow cylindrical section 407 is formed in the locking element.

A tool for engagement with the locking element is adapted to be engageable with the ring-shaped recess 405. FIG. 16 shows an exemplary tool 500 cooperating with the locking element 400. The end section 501 comprises a ring-shaped projection 502 adapted to engage the recess 405 in a form-fitting manner. The end section also 501 comprises a central projection 503 with a retaining spring 504 engaging the coaxial bore 402 for facilitating alignment and handling of the locking element.

The locking element can be used in such applications where it is necessary to introduce an instrument or a wire through the bore 402, for example in the case of minimally invasive surgery.

Further modifications are possible. The external and the internal thread can have any thread shape, such as, for example, a metric thread. Using a flat thread, a saw-tooth thread or a negative angle thread for the external thread of the first locking element and the cooperating internal thread of the receiving part, however, has the advantage that it prevents splaying of the legs of the receiving part. Therefore, an outer ring or a nut to prevent splaying is not needed. By using the locking assembly of the invention together with a flat thread as the external thread, the implant can be further downsized.

The number of the grooves and the shape of the grooves can vary.

It is conceivable to design the first locking element with a recess having a quadrangular or hexagonal or otherwise polygonal cross section with or without grooves. In this case, the end section of the tool has a matching shape. This also provides for a form-fit connection between the tool and the first locking element with the external thread of the first locking element remaining intact.

The second locking element 32 or the third locking element 303 in the case of the locking assembly 300 of the second embodiment or, in general, the inmost locking element in the case of a locking assembly having multiple locking elements may not need to have a recess with grooves as shown in the embodiment. It is sufficient, that the inmost locking element has a recess for engagement with screwing-in tool, such as a hexagon recess. The corresponding end section of the tool is then adapted to this shape.

The disclosure is not limited to the polyaxial bone anchoring device as shown in the first embodiment. It can be used in the case of a monoaxial bone anchoring device in which the receiving part is fixedly connected to the shank of the bone screw as well. Furthermore, the polyaxial bone anchoring device can have a different construction. It is possible to have a design of the receiving part which allows that the screw is inserted from the bottom instead from the top of the receiving part.

The locking assembly can also be used in such kind of bone anchoring devices in which the receiving part is designed and structured so that the rod is fixed laterally apart from the central axis of the bone screw. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A locking assembly for securing a rod in a receiving part of a bone anchoring device for use in spinal or trauma surgery, said locking assembly comprising: a locking element having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface provided with an external thread, and a coaxial bore passing entirely through said locking element; wherein said locking element has a ring-shaped recess extending from the first end to a distance from the second end, said recess defining a circumferentially closed wall portion, wherein the interior of the wall portion comprises longitudinally extending grooves for engagement with a tool, and wherein the locking element is open from the first end to the second end through the coaxial bore.
 2. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the coaxial bore is threadless.
 3. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the external thread of the locking element is intact over an entire axial length of the locking element.
 4. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the external thread of the locking element is designed as a flat thread.
 5. The locking assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a shank to be anchored in a bone; a receiving part coupled to the shank and configured to receive a rod, the receiving part comprising a recess having a substantially U-shaped cross section for receiving the rod with two open legs on one end and an internal thread on the open legs to receive the locking element.
 6. The locking assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second circumferentially closed wall portion that defines an inside of the recess, the circumferentially closed wall portions being spaced apart to form the recess.
 7. The locking assembly of claim 6 wherein the second circumferentially closed, wall portion comprises a cylindrical section and the coaxial bore passes through the cylindrical section.
 8. The locking assembly of claim 6, wherein the coaxial bore is threadless.
 9. The locking assembly of claim 6, further comprising: a shank to be anchored in a bone; and a receiving part coupled to the shank and configured to receive a rod, the receiving part comprising a recess having a substantially U-shaped cross section for receiving the rod with two open legs on one end and an internal thread on the open legs to receive the locking element.
 10. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending grooves extend from the first end.
 11. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking element is monolithic.
 12. The locking assembly of claim 1, wherein the longitudinally extending grooves have at least one of a semi-circular shape, a triangular shape, and a square shape in a cross-sectional plane through the longitudinal axis.
 13. A locking assembly for securing a rod in a receiving part of a bone anchoring device for use in spinal or trauma surgery, the locking assembly comprising: a locking element having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal axis, an outer surface provided with an external thread, and a coaxial bore passing entirely through the locking element; wherein the locking element comprises a recess extending from the first end to a distance from the second end and defining a circumferentially closed wall portion having an inner diameter larger than a diameter of the coaxial bore, and wherein the locking element further comprises longitudinally extending grooves in the recess on one or more inwardly facing surfaces of the circumferentially closed wall portion and configured to engage a tool for rotating the locking element about the longitudinal axis.
 14. The locking assembly of claim 13, wherein the coaxial bore is threadless.
 15. The locking assembly of claim 13, wherein the external thread of the locking element is intact over an entire axial length of the locking element.
 16. The locking assembly of claim 13, wherein the locking element is monolithic.
 17. The locking assembly of claim 13, further comprising: a shank to be anchored in a bone; and a receiving part coupled to the shank and configured to receive a rod, the receiving part comprising a recess having a substantially U-shaped cross section for receiving the rod with two open leas on one end and an internal thread on the open legs to receive the locking element.
 18. The locking assembly of claim 13, wherein the locking element further comprises a second circumferentially closed wall portion that defines an inside of the recess, the circumferentially closed wall portions being spaced apart to form the recess.
 19. The locking assembly of claim 18, further comprising: a shank to be anchored in a bone; and a receiving part coupled to the shank and configured to receive a rod, the receiving part comprising a recess having a substantially U-shaped cross section for receiving the rod with two open legs on one end and an internal thread on the open legs to receive the locking element. 